Hinting

Description

Get others to do as you want them to do by using hints and other indirect
suggestions.

Do not just tell them what to do or try to persuade them. Rather, see if you
can get them to come up with the idea by dropping hints, showing examples and
otherwise nudging their thinking in the right direction.

Example

I'm bored. [nudge towards 'let's go out']

There's a new beauty salon in town. [= I'd like to go
there]

This is the last car we have. [=buy now]

Discussion

We all have a strong need for a sense of
control, and when others
try to tell us what to do, or even persuade us, we may push back and even do the
opposite just to show who is in charge. When this may be the case, more subtle
means are necessary and hinting is just such a method.

You may not even need to say anything as you can hint with
body language and action as well as
words. Just by looking sad, interested and so on, you can send signals to which
the other person may respond. These may also be combined with other forms of
persuasion. And actions such as turning down the lights and putting on gentle
music can be a nudge towards a more romantic situation.

Hinting is the 36th of the 64 compliance-gaining strategies
described by Kellerman and Cole.